Soap holding and lathering sponge



March 1l, 1952 A G, sMlTH I 2,588,773

SOAP HOLDING AND LATHERING SPONGE Filed March 22, 1948 Patented Mar. 11, 1952 USN l'TElD STAT E S- Y 2,588,773 i SOAPQHOLDING AND LATHERING SPQNGE Y Andrew G. smith, Detroit, Mich.

Application March 22, 194,8, SerialNo. 16,311

My invention relatesto improvements in soap supplying sponges forgeneral utility purposes and especially for use in bathing.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an inexpensive artificial sponge adapted for containing a bar of soap, or the like, securely confined therein against slipping out of the sponge, the sponge being especially designed and constructed for working up and discharging a thick lather in a manner to conserve soap, and special provision being made for easily and quickly inserting a bar of soap into the sponge when required.

Another object is to provide a sponge of the character and having the advantages above set forth and in which provision is made for minimizing injury to the sponge by caustics and chemicals contained in the soap, whereby the 1 Claim. (Cl. 15-122) sponge is rendered durable and will not quickly lose its resiliency.

Other and 'subordinate objects, within the purview of my invention, together with the precise nature of my improvements will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawing accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my improved soap supplying sponge in a preferred embodiment thereof;

Figure 2 is a view in longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a View in longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the snap fastener strips; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in longitudinal section of the slit end of the body.

Referring now to the drawing by numerals, my improved sponge in the illustrated embodiment thereof comprises a body I of sponge rubber which, because of its porosity and resiliency, is Well adapted to function in the same manner as the natural sponge. The body I is preferably of elongated, rectangular, at form and is hollow to provide in the median plane thereof a correspondingly shaped cavity 2 for containing a bar of soap 3 therein. Ducts 4 extend from vone side of the cavity 2 to one broad side of the body I for admitting water into the cavity 2 to be mixed with soap by squeezing the body I, and discharged from said ducts in the form of soapy water or lather, as the case may be.

The cavity 2 is lined by a coating on the Walls ofthe cavity filling the pores of the sponge rubber and which is of a material more resistant to injurious action by caustics, and other chemicals in soap, than sponge rubber. The coating, designated 5, may take the form of liquid rubber which has set, or any other similar resilient stretchable material.

A slit 6 is formed in one end of the body I to extend part way along the same and to the cavity 2, in the median plane of the body I, and to be spread apart to form an opening for introducing the bar of soap 3 into said cavity. The slit E is stepped along its inner edge to form a lip 'I extending along said edge and normally seating in a conforming groove 8 to form a seal along said edge of the slit preventing -the bar of soap 3 from working into said slit, spreading the slit apart and slipping out of the same.

A pair of opposed strips of flexible material are xed in the slit 6 outwardly of the lip 1 by cement, not shown, these strips, designated 9 being provided with snap fasteners for securing the same together to maintain the slit 6 closed. f

Edge tabs II on the strips 9 projecting out of the slit 6 are provided for grasping to conveniently spread the slit 6 open and simultaneously pull the strips apart by disengaging the snap fasteners I0.

A pair of strips I2 of relatively hard but flexible material, for instance rubber impregnated fabric, and embedded in the slit end of the body I at opposite ends of the slit 6, crosswise of said ends, whereby said slit 6 is rendered I-shaped to facilitate spreading the same apart and said strips I2 reenforce the body I at 'the ends of the slit 6 against spreading outwardly away from said ends. The strips I2 may be provided with right angled inner edge flanges I3 for anchoring the same in the body I.

The foregoing will, it isbelieved, suice to impart a clear understanding of my invention, since the manner in which the sponge is designed to be used and to function will be clear from the description of the construction thereof.

Manifestly', the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification, without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modications as fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A sponge comprising a body of porous sponge rubber formed with a cavity in the median plane thereof adapted to contain a bar of soap, said body having ducts therein extending from the Cavity to the surface of the body for admitting liquid into the cavity to form a lather with the soap and be discharged out of said ducts, said body having a slit extending therein to the cavity for spreading apart to form an opening for introducing a bar of soap into the cavity, said slit being stepped along its inner edge to form a lip along said edge normally seating in a conforming groove to form a seal along said edge of the slit for preventing the bar of soap from Working into the slit, spreading the slit apart, and slipping out of said slit, and a pair of opposed strips of flexible material xed in the slit outwardly of said lip and provided with snap action fasteners for securing the same together to maintain the slit closed, said lip when the opening is closed overlapping the inner edges of said strips to form a seal along said edges.

ANDREW G. MTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 837,759 Weston Dec. 4, 1906 1,070,689 Irrgang Aug. 19, 1913 1,418,019 Pearson May 30, 1922 1,577,361 Henry Mar. 23, 1926 1,354,415 Miller Apr. 19, 1932 1,912,224 Schlmel May 30, 1933 2,032,762 Mitchell Mar. 3, 1936 2,070,313 Pieper Feb. 9, 1937 2,127,901 Arms Aug. 23, 1938 2,147,164 Kent Feb. 14, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 711,293 France June 23, 1931 862,511 France Dec. 9, 1940 

